A/70/PV.2 General Assembly
The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m.
May I invite the General Assembly to direct its attention to section I of the report of the Committee. In that section, the General Committee took note of the information contained in paragraph 2.
May I request the General Assembly to now direct its attention to section II, entitled “Organization of the session”, which contains a number of recommendations concerning the General Committee, the rationalization of work, the opening and closing dates for the session, the schedule of meetings, the general debate and the conduct of the meetings, and so on.
In paragraph 26, the General Committee draws to the attention of the Assembly the fact that the general debate will begin on Monday, 28 September, and recommends that it continue to Saturday, 3 October 2015.
May I take it that the Assembly takes note of the information contained in paragraph 26 and approves the recommendation that the general debate continue on Saturday, 3 October 2015?
It was so decided.
All other recommendations in section II of the report of the Committee concern
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established practice, so rather than going through them one by one, I believe it would be beneficial to address all of these organizational matters concerning the General Assembly as a whole. There being no comments on that approach, we shall proceed accordingly.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all of the information and to approve all the recommendations of the General Committee contained in section II of the report?
It was so decided.
Having just adopted the recommendation in paragraph 21, on waiving the requirements of rules 67 and 108 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly to declare a meeting open, I should like to encourage delegations to be present in the meeting rooms at the scheduled time in order to promote the punctuality and efficiency of the Assembly’s proceedings.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information contained in paragraph 51 concerning the timely submission of draft proposals for the review of their programme budget implications?
It was so decided.
May I now invite members to turn their attention to section III, dealing with the adoption of the agenda. The question of the allocation of items will be dealt with subsequently in section IV.
In section III, the General Committee took note of the information contained in paragraphs 62 to 67. In paragraph 68, in connection with item 41 of the draft agenda, entitled “Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading B, entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security”, on the understanding that there would be no consideration of this item by the General Assembly. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 69, in connection with item 64 of the draft agenda, entitled “Question of the Malagasy islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Sassas da India”, the General Committee decided to recommend that consideration of this item be deferred to the seventy-first session of the General Assembly and that the item be included in the provisional agenda of that session. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 70, in connection with sub-item (b) of item 70 of the draft agenda, entitled “Follow-up to the outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading D, entitled “Promotion of human rights”. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 71, in connection with sub-item (dd) of item 98 of the draft agenda, entitled “Joint ad hoc meeting of the First and Fourth Committees on possible challenges to space security and sustainability”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading G, entitled “Disarmament”. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 72, in connection with item 169 of the draft agenda, entitled “Observer status for the Eurasian Economic Union in the General Assembly”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 73, in connection with item 170 of the draft agenda, entitled “Observer status for the Community of Democracies in the General Assembly”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 74, in connection with item 171 of the draft agenda, entitled “Observer status for the International Civil Defence Organization in the General Assembly”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 75, in connection with item 172 of the draft agenda, entitled “Observer status for the Indian Ocean Rim Association in the General Assembly”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 76, in connection with item 173 of the draft agenda, entitled “Global awareness of the tragedies of irregular migrants in the Mediterranean basin with specific emphasis on Syrian asylum seekers”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”.
I give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.
I should like to remind members once again that we are currently considering organizational matters concerning the adoption of the provisional agenda and the allocation of items. At present, we are not discussing the substance of any item. Substantive aspects relating to an item included in the provisional agenda should be discussed during the scheduled plenary meeting debate on that item.
My delegation was not planning to deliver a statement today as the General Assembly adopts the provisional agenda for the seventieth session, which is set to become a historic one in the course of the next few weeks. Unfortunately, I have had to take the floor in response to one delegation’s baseless allegations, which are yet another attempt to divert attention from the enormous destruction, human suffering and forced displacement of millions of Syrians. But I will not go into detail.
With our proposal, which is under consideration today, we place our faith in the United Nations and its membership to increase its global awareness of the tragedies of hundreds of thousands of irregular migrants and refugees on the move in the Mediterranean Basin. We hope this initiative will enable the international community to discuss viable responses and solutions, which can be found through collective efforts undertaken through partnerships and solidarity.
This is not Turkey’s agenda item per se. We have proposed it, but it is in our collective interests to consider this issue for humankind. The world is watching the United Nations and waiting for a response from the organ convened in this Hall.
May I take it that the Assembly approves the recommendation contained in paragraph 76 of the report?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the agenda recommended by the General Committee in paragraph 77 of its report for adoption by the General Assembly, taking into account the decisions just adopted with respect to the draft agenda.
Bearing in mind that the agenda is organized under nine headings, we shall consider the inclusion of items under each heading as a whole. I should like to remind members once again that, at present, we are not discussing the substance of any item.
Items 1 and 2 have already been dealt with. We shall now turn to items 3 to 8. May I take it that these items are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the inclusion of the items listed under heading A, entitled “Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences”. May I take it that the items listed under heading A are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now to heading B, entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security”. May I take it that the items listed under heading B are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
As this is the first time the delegation of Armenia takes the floor at this session, let me begin by extending words of congratulation to you, Mr. President, upon your assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly and to assure you, Sir, of my delegation’s full support and cooperation in the deliberations and work of the General Assembly.
I wish to state that Armenia dissociates itself from the consensus on including item 40 in the agenda of the seventieth session of the General Assembly. I kindly ask, through you, Mr. President, the Secretariat to duly reflect the Armenian position in the official records of this meeting.
We take note of the statement by the representative of Armenia.
Next, we turn to heading C, entitled “Development of Africa”. May I take it that the item listed under this heading is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Now we come to heading D, entitled “Promotion of human rights”. May I take it that the items listed under heading D are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Heading E is entitled “Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts”. May
I take it that the items listed under this heading are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Next, we turn to heading F, entitled “Promotion of justice and international law”. May I take it that the items listed under heading F are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We now turn to heading G, entitled “Disarmament”. May I take it that the items listed under this heading are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Heading H is entitled “Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. May I take it that the items listed under this heading are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Lastly, we turn to heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”.
May I take it that the items listed under heading I are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now to section IV of the report of the General Committee, on the allocation of items.
The General Committee took note of the information contained in paragraphs 78 to 80. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information contained in paragraph 80 concerning the granting of observer status?
It was so decided.
We shall now turn to the recommendations contained in paragraphs 82 to 86. We shall take up the recommendations one by one. Before we proceed, may I remind members that the item numbers cited here refer to the agenda in paragraph 77 of the report before us, namely document A/70/250.
We shall now turn to paragraphs 82 (a) to (m), which relate to a number of plenary items. We turn first to paragraph 82 (m), which relates to item 130, entitled “Global awareness of the tragedies of irregular migrants
in the Mediterranean basin, with specific emphasis on Syrian asylum seekers”.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation contained in paragraph 82 (m)?
It was so decided.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all the information that the General Committee wishes it to take note of and approve all the recommendations of the General Committee contained in paragraphs 82 (a) to (m)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 83 (a) and (b), which relate to item 97, entitled “General and complete disarmament”, and sub-item (dd) of item 97, entitled “Joint ad hoc meeting of the First and Fourth Committees on possible challenges to space security and sustainability”, for consideration by the First Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained in paragraphs 83 (a) and (b)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraph 84, which relates to sub-item (b) of item 69, entitled “Follow-up to the outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples”, for consideration by the Third Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation contained in paragraph 84?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 85 (a) and (b), which relate to item 135, entitled “Programme planning”, and item 143, entitled “Administration of justice at the United Nations”, for consideration by the Fifth Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained in paragraphs 85 (a) and (b)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 86 (a) to (d), which relate to item 169, entitled “Observer status for the Eurasian Economic Union in the General Assembly”; item 170 , entitled “Observer status for the Community of Democracies in the General Assembly”; item 171, entitled “Observer status for the International
Civil Defence Organization in the General Assembly”; and item 172, entitled “Observer status for the Indian Ocean Rim Association in the General Assembly”, for consideration by the Sixth Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained in paragraphs 86 (a) to (d)?
It was so decided.
We now turn to paragraph 87 of the report of the General Committee, on the allocation of items to the plenary and to each Main Committee.
We turn first to the list of items recommended by the General Committee for consideration directly in plenary meeting under all the relevant headings.
Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items listed for consideration directly in plenary meeting.
It was so decided.
Next, we come to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the First Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these items for consideration by the First Committee?
It was so decided.
We now turn to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these items for consideration by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee)?
It was so decided.
We come now to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Second Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these items for consideration by the Second Committee?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Third Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these items for consideration by the Third Committee?
It was so decided.
Next, we come to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Fifth Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these items for consideration by the Fifth Committee?
It was so decided.
Lastly, we come to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Sixth Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these items for consideration by the Sixth Committee?
It was so decided.
The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of the first report of the General Committee. I wish to thank all the members of the Assembly for their cooperation. Each Main Committee will receive the list of agenda items allocated to it so that it may begin its work in accordance with rule 99 of the rules of procedure.
I would now like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation of the Holy See in its capacity as an observer State in the session and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with resolution 58/314, of 1 July 2004, and the note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/58/871, the Holy See, in its capacity as an observer State, will participate in the work of the seventieth session of the General Assembly, with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
I would also like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation of the State of Palestine, in its capacity as an observer State, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with resolutions 3237 (XXIX), of 22 November 1974; 43/177, of 15 December 1988; 52/250, of 7 July 1998; and 67/19, of 29 November 2012, and the note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/52/1002, the State of Palestine, in its capacity as an observer State, will participate in the work of the seventieth session of the General Assembly, with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
In addition, I would like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation
of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with resolution 65/276, of 3 May 2011, and the note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/65/856, observers of the European Union will participate in the work of the seventieth session of the General Assembly, with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
The meeting rose at 10.40 a.m.